My daily Auto Key Programmer is the HotWire and the MVP Pro. I am on the unlimited token plan for both programmers. For the past 5+ years, I have been purchasing and testing “Offshore Auto Key Programmers.”

I have several Off Shore Auto Key Programmer Clones. The price was so low, we keep on testing to see if any Off Shore Key Programmer could replace our existing programmers.

The MVP Clones are poorly made and no consistency or reliability with the software.

One Off Shore Auto Key Programmer clones will program Ford and Chrysler but not Honda. Another identical clone will do Honda but not some Fords.
Another clone may work on a Nissan, but no one unit will do everything. It’s just been a zero.

So we kept on buying these, kept on testing them. Our dongles would break. The units would break. They’d fall apart. The software was inconsistent.

However, we found one clone that consistently worked well with Honda reflashes, specifically the 1998-2002 Honda Preludes.

In the early day we were just trying to save tokens, and really did we save any money? No, the clones were not good. There’s no consistency.

But again, if you don’t try, you don’t know. And there are some good units out there that the Chinese are coming out with now that are making some of the good stuff look bad.

Some of the new offshore auto key programmer clones they are using their own software, their own designs, and they are not clones or scammer units. Some of the Off Shore Key Programmers actually seem to be getting there.

Well, they’re coming out with nice updates on them, so they are becoming consistent.

The thing is with everything, you could have an Offshore made, really good programmer, and now they have counterfeit units of that that are total garbage.

So why are some of these Auto Key Programmers $300 and the other unit’s $50? The $50 unit is a total clone and it’s a total piece of garbage. How do you know? You don’t. That’s the big problem.

One way to find out is if you read the automotive forums.

Talk to other Locksmiths and view our videos.

The various plugins quality was all over the map. Some very good forums on Facebook, KeyPro website, ClearStar, etc.

So far, again, we’ve talked about this before, our go-to units are the MVP Pro and Hotwire.

For On-line and Hands-on Locksmith Training Dates and Cities and automotive locksmith near you by Terry Whin-Yates for Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced Locksmithing as well as my Covert Methods of Entry, Non-destructive Methods of Entry and to purchase the Famous “Dumb Key Force Tool” go to Mr. Locksmith Training

Mr. Locksmith Automotive Salt Spring Island is reviewing the Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer. I absolutely love this product. It was one of the first programmers I bought. We use two major Automotive Key Programmer, the MVP Pro and we the Hot Wire.

Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer is PC based. It goes through a box and it plugs into the OBDC unit. It’s the most idiot-proof key programmer you can find out there.

The interface is so simple you don’t even need to read the manual. All you do is pick out your year, make, and model and plug it in. Turn the key to run and hit enter. The interface is unbelievably good. I absolutely love this. For beginners or advanced automotive locksmiths.

The MVP Pro is the bleeding edge and can do more autos. However, the Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer is easier, quicker to use but again we had the other day where the MVP Pro wouldn’t program a vehicle, the Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer did it.

In the past, I had two Mustangs side by side, same year, same model. The Hot Wire would program one but wouldn’t program the other. The MVP Pro would program the other unit but wouldn’t program the one that the Hot Wire would do. That’s a constant battle with cars. It happens.

We are making keys to cars every single day. This is what we find and we can’t do without two programmers. Nobody can.

That is why we keep on trying some of the offshore versions just to see how they go. We’re always evaluating them.

Again, if you are starting out and you’re coming into a good standard unit, this is the way to go. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s to the point, and you can’t make a mistake. You really cannot make a mistake.

I love the tablet-based Hot Wire because it’s all in one unit.

We are subscription based on one of our Hot Wires and one we have purchased the software for the most popular autos.

No matter what anybody says, we haven’t found one key programmer that does everything.

If the manufacturer’s want to disagree, I’m waiting for that holy grail. That one machine.

Our service vehicles are equipped with advanced tools and computers that allow us to open your car locks without causing any damage at all. We also have state of the art, computerized machines that we can use to manufacture new keys or replace the old ignition in your car.

For On-line and Hands-on Locksmith Training Dates and Cities near you for Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced Locksmithing as well as my Covert Methods of Entry, Non-destructive Methods of Entry and to purchase the Famous “Dumb Key Force Tool” that opens Smart Key locks in seconds go to Mr. Locksmith Training http://mrlocksmithtraining.com/